Denon DA 307 and DA 309

I would like confirmation if your DA 307 also oscillates so little.

Not my case, mine oscillates more than the one in the video, go to my link and watch the video https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m6j01m72nt9v5tl/AADVZPzl_uly7MJldNR_nT9la?dl=0

Just noticed your response, seems I wasn't following the thread.

There is no horizontal movement, if you engage the antiskate yes it moves outwards as it should, the tonearm hasn't been overhauled.

As a matter of fact I'm a little disappointed, the initial test and sound wasn't anything good, I think the Zupreme headshell with the DL302-II is too heavy for this arm so I will be getting a lighter headshell and MM cart and will try it.
My former Technics SL 1210 mk5 sounded better, but I'm sure it is the lack of experience setting up everything so I'm not quitting.

BTW your custom made racks are very nice, they look solid, stainless steel? or aluminum?

Thank you, I will use the 2 little screws then, thanks for the tip on the DA-401. Remember I am learning that's why I wanted to start with simple tonearms and do the entire setup from the scratch. I am not the one that likes easy things or someone to do the setup for me (like millercarbon mentioned in some other thread) :) it takes a lot of time though when you are inexperienced but here in Audiogon with you @chakster and others I have learned so much.

Just mounted a Denon DA-307 on a Luxman PD-444The DA-307 VTA / tonearm height must be adjusted as it is almost leveled with the PD-444 platter, is the tonearm height adjusted with the 2 tiny screws on the tonearm silver base? just loosen the screws and raise the tonearm and affix the screws again? my first thought was using a washer to raise the tonearm base but obviously the screws seems like the right choice although very tiny. I guess the tonearm is so light that those screws should hold it in place. If anyone could confirm that would be great. Thanks

Hahaha yeah, analog is a lot of work, I can understand why some avoid it. I have a few carts and I am doing some compliance calculations and such.

Use the 2 little screws and drive yourself nuts

@lewm definitely VTA on the fly is such a great thing

Denon DL103 or any of its relatives

Planning to try with the DL-301II, it is mounted on an LP Gear Zupreme, heavy headshell, total mass is around 15g and it almost offsets the DA307 counterweight, I have it all the way back at 2g tracking force,
This is a lot of work to get it right. Adjusting the VTA I tried following Mikey’s guide here:https://www.analogplanet.com/content/how-use-usb-digital-microscope-set-92-degree-stylus-rake-angle-...The microscope which I have I can’t get it flushed to the platter, I made all the adjustments with the Hifi News protractor and the DA-307 mounting template to adjust overhang and spindle location, very easy moving the armboard on the Luxman left and right, I am pretty sure there are a lot of improvements I could do but this is work in progress.Hardest part is getting a work bench adequate with light without my wife complaining that I have too much crap  all over the place.Then finding a rack, extra one, putting it in the living room without my wife complaining I have too many things all over the place and why I don’t go back to the times I stream music from my phone to my little integrated with my Elac’s B5, not that there is anything wrong with the Elacs.I think I need a bigger houseAnd I need a divorce as welland some money to buy more stuffNow she called me that it would be nice to go out, so I have to leave the TT and the tonearm half set and continue tomorrow because I need to get going
I hope the lines above will cheer some of you up, and perhaps you could relate too :)Oh some photos ....By the way the arm lift doesn’t have too much displacement, very short compared to others.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m6j01m72nt9v5tl/AADVZPzl_uly7MJldNR_nT9la?dl=0
Thanks Lew

I have been thinking that the combo of the Zupreme headshell 12g + DL-301II 6g for total 18g might not be the best for the DA-307.
The DA-307 could accept carts from 5 - 10g so it seems the DL-301II could be a possible one to use, the original headshell PCL-5 weights 6g, half of the Zupreme I am using. I don't have any HS close to 6g except for a Yamamoto HS-4S which at 10.7 g is close to the Zupreme. I also have a Grace HS-3 which at 8g could be a good match as well.
But I have a Pickering 3000SP which is seems to be just under 18g, maybe 16 or so with headshell, will this be a good match or would it be better to use the Denon cart with a lower weight headshell?

@lewm you were right about having fun setting up this tonearm.1. Measure 230mm P2S2. Figure out 14mm overhang from spindle to stylus3. Align the cantilever with the lines on the protractor4. Adjust the VTF
5. Then after all this try to figure out the proper VTA
Analog is a lot of work ..... I hope with the Pickering I get better results.

After installing the 3000SP with headshell provided courtesy of @chakster
1. Readjusted P2S which wasn't properly setup the 1st time to 230 mm.
2. Move back the cart a little on the HS to match 14mm overhang
3. Measured VTA, it is at 89 degrees, I need to readjust but it is late, will do it tomorrow.4. Adjusted VTF to 1gr
Sounds completely different than with the DL302-II, much much better, playing stairway to heaven from modern not so great pressing, imaging and sound stage is very good, it has the coherence my very good digital lacks playing rock, highs a little rolled off but I'm not doing any loading and I'm using a DIN to male RCA cable + female RCA to XLR adapter cable, tracking with 1g is perfect.

Still need to double check using the hifi news LP

All in all for the money I am very satisfied with the DA-307 and with my starter analog rig, I was on the brink to put it aside again.

The trick is to set up the VTF right with the brush.

Correct, I'm not using the brush, it makes the stylus contact more complex and I wanted to initially try without it, planning on adding it later on.

If you're using your Pickering with the brush then tracking force must be 1g higher, 

Thanks for the tip

Recommended tracking force for XSV/3000SP is 2g !
You have to set tracking force at 3g with the brush to get desired 2g on the stylus @luisma31

 So the XSV3000 is 1g but the SP is 2g? (without the brush)

Thanks

Hmmm, something is not right

Thank you @cleeds you are correct, my bad, I was mistakenly naming VTA to SRA

This is not related directly but Thursday I finally finished setting my vinyl rig, adjusted the XSV3000SP VTF with brush to 1.5g and tested, it tracked with no issues, finally used the Hifi news LP and there was some unwanted noise on top of the tone when playing the tracking tracks ... Increasing the VTF to 2.1g fixed the issue, antiskate adjusted using the LP is at 1.7.

Chakster (and others) you mentioned 3g VTF with brush, if 2.1g with brush sounds good should I still go all the way to 3g? or keeping it lower as long as it tracks is desirable? I suspect that good tracking at 2.1 with the Hifi news LP doesn't mean it will always track that well with other LPs, is that accurate?
Yesterday I listened to vinyl for the 1st time in 38 years for 8 or more hours .... a mix of LPs from initial pressings to modern ones, even modern LP's highly praised by guys like Fremer (which I respect very much) although dead silent in terms of noise the dynamics and mastering in general were not comparable to others, the Wildflowers Tom Petty album was an example, I expected more from it. A Journey - Escape 1981 original Columbia pressing sounded incredible. I am very very excited rediscovering vinyl, I can say now that all my efforts and money throw at it were worth it.
Thank you all for your help, I am grateful to know you here online.